Type-writing-machine key and type-bar action.



J. ALEXANDER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE KEY AND TYPE BAR ACTION, APPLICATION FILED MAIL. 20. I9I5. v 1 203 8 37, PanentedNov. 7,1916.

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TYPE 'WRIIING MACHINE KEY AND TYPE BAR ACTIO APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. I9]

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Q a L I Q N 1 Y J. ALEXANDER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE KEY AND TYPE BAR ACTION. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. I915. 1,203,831 Pqtented Nov. 7, 1916.

v J. ALEXANDER- TYPE'WRITING MACHINE KEY AND TYPE BAR ACTION.

Patented Nov. 7,1 16.-

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JESSE ALEXANDER,.OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-WRITING-MACHINE AND TYPE-BAR ACTION.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Original application filed-May 22, 1912, Serial No. 698.879; renewed March 18, 1915, Serial No. 15,388; again renewed October 22, 1915, Serial No. 57,382. Divided and this application filed March 20, 1915,

Serial No. 15,756. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn ALEXANDER, a

- citizen'of the United States of America, and

residing at New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in TypeJVriting-Machine Keys and Type-Bar.

of heavy manifolding work as well as the usual lighter grade of typewriter work. In

. carrying out these objects I provide a double connection between each key lever and type bar, consisting of a link having a shoulder engaging the type, bar at a point considerably forward of the pivot thereof at com'- mencement of the printing stroke and having also a lost-motion connection with the type bar located at a point nearer to the pivot. The effect of these connections is to start, the type bar with aneasy, light touch and then as the lost-motion is takenup to carry the type bar forward to printing contact with a quick sharp blow.

Another feature of-the invention is the mounting of the type bar segment and the bearing for-the key levers in brackets which are secured to the inner sides ofthe side members of the supporting frame, whereby all of said members are maintained always in proper relation. I

Other features are the mounting of the key levers on four parallel shafts and the pivoting of the shanks of certain of the keys to their respective levers and guiding them so that they will be compact and yet havea substantially true up and down vertical movement and will not interfere with each other.

Various other features will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a practical and preferred embodiment of my invention but I would have it understood that various changes and modifications may be made without de-' partu're from the v invention. It will also be understood that the terms employed herein are terms of description rather than of limitation except as may be required by the prior art.

true spirit and scope of the Figure 1, is a vertical, substantially central, sectional view of a machine embodymy; the invention. Fig. 2', is a perspectivi partly broken view of the key and type bai mechanism and one of the supporting bra ikets removed from the main supporting frame. Fig. 3, is a vertical section and rear view of the machine taken on a plane at v right angles to that of Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is a detail view showing one of the upper bank of key levers depressed and the type bar connected therewith in printing position.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are 'detached views of'key levers from the lower, the second and the third bank of key levers.

l5-des1gnates the main supporting frame of suitable construction, preferably that shown in my application Serial No. 698,879,

-filed May 22nd, 19 12, of which the present case is a division.

Secured to the inner faces of'the side members of this frame by means of rivets, screws 16, or like fastenings, are the oppositely disposed supporting brackets 17,,which constitutemountiiigs for the type bar segment andkey lever supports. These brackets are accordingly provided with inwardly extending supporting ledges 18 at their upper rearward portions, for the. support of the typebar segment and with sockets 19 in their lower forward portions for the type lever supporting shafts.

20 designates the type bar segment, provided with lugs 21 at the ends thereof resting on the supporting ledges of the bracket and suitably secured 111 such position as by means of screws 22. The type bars 25 are pivoted on the pivot wire I26 carried by the segment and their forward free ends nor mally rest in the type basket 27. The operating keys are in the present disclosure arranged in four rows or banks and the key levers of the different banks are pivoted on four different centers disposed so as to substantially compensate for the difference in length of the several sets-of key levers.

80 designates a key lever of the lower or first bank pivoted at 31 on the forward pivot rod 32.

33 is a key lever ofthesecond bank, pivoted at 34 on the pivot rod 35, in rear of the first pivot rod.

36 is a key lever of the third bank. pivoted at 37 on the third pivot rod 38, and 39 .is a

are slotted at 53 to fit over such bars.

' is shown in Fig. 2.

The keys 42 and 43 of the lower and second banks are shown connected directly to their respective levers and the keys 4 1 and -15 of the two upper banks are shown carried by shanks 46 and i7 which are pivoted to their levers by pivot joints 4:8 and i9. These pivoted key shanks are guided for substantially vertical up and down movements by transversely extending guide bars 50 and 51 notched at to receive the shanks, which The guide bars are supported at their ends by brackets 5-l secured inside the side plates of the frame. These brackets may be adjustably secured in place as by means of screws 55 engaged in enlarged openings 56' in the brackets so as to permit of the guide strips being set to properly guide the shank portions of the divided key levers. At the center the guide bars are shown connected together in proper spaced relation by a bar 57 which is adjustably secured by a screw 58 to a forwardly projecting bracket 59 carried by the transversely extending intermediate plate or portion 60 of the frame.

The key lovers are connected with the type bars by means of push links (35 pivoted to the rear ends of the key levers at 66 and having both a temporary long-leverage connection with the type bars for starting them on their printing stroke and a short-lever lostmotion connection for carrying the type bars, once started, to their full printing position. The links are accordingly each provided with a forwardly extending fork or arm 67 terminating in a shoulder (58 normally engaging the lower edge of the type bar at a point lower than and considerably in advance of The type bar pivot and they have a pin and slot connection 69 with the type bar at a point forward of but closer to the pivot. The pin is, as shown, usually carried by the type bar and the slot is formed in'the upper end of the link.

In operation. when a key is depressed, the rear end of the key lever is elevated. The forwardly located shoulder onthe push link mounted on the rear end of such lever being then in engagement with the lower edge of the type bar, the type bar is started on its printing stroke. the leverage exerted at this point being suilicient to start the type'bar with an easy quick movement. As the type bar travels upward the lost-motion in the pin and slot connection is taken up and the type bar is then carried the balance of its stroke by the-link acting on the pin. This transfer of the driving force to a point closer to the type bar pivot accelerates the speed of vpe bar, thus adding to the force of the blow and increasing the speed of action. The type bar may be provided with astop shoulder 70 on its upper edge for engagement with a stop surface 71 on the face of the type bar segment to limit the printing stroke and cause the type bar to rebound to start the return stroke. The return stroke may be further assisted by a spring pressed rod 74 disposed above the rearward portions of the key levers and serving to cushion such levers and impart an initial reverse movement to them. At the printing point the type bar may be guided by spaced apart rolls 72 providing a guide passage for the flange 73 of the type bar.

The carriage, ribbon feed and escap'ement mechanism may be of any suitable construction such as that disclosed in the parent application Serial No. 698,879 above referred to. In this case the carriage is indicated at 75 carrying the platen 76 and traveling on front and rear guides 77, 7 8. The ribbon 80 is carried by spools S1 and is fed from side to side by reciprocating pawls 82 (only one shown) which engage ratchet wheels 83 onthe lower ends of the ribbon spool shafts 81. At the printing point the ribbon is guided and lifted into printing position by a ribbon lift 85 which is connected at its lower end to the arm 80 of a rock shaft ST which is operated from the universal bar.

The universal bar is designated and is shown guided in a slot 91 in the back of the type bar segment in position to be engaged and operated by projections 92 on the upper edges of the type bars, as indicated in Fig. 4. At the rear the universal bar is supported by being pivoted at 93 to a rocker Dl which is pivotally supported at 95. On the rear edge of the universal bar is a book 96 engaging in a slot 97 in the upstanding arm 8 on shaft 9.), this arm being connected by a link 100 with the arm 101 of the rock shaft 87. A spring 102 draws the universal bar forward returning it to position after being engaged and oierated by the key levers. The universal bar thus yielding supported also cushions the type bars and helps return them to the position of rest. The universal bar operates the escapement and through the connections described also operates the rib hon lift.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides a machine which is of very simple, strong and compact construction, possesses a light, quick action and is capable of heavy manifolding as well as lighter work. The special mounting of the parts and the action in supporting brackets insures the maintenance of the proper relation between such parts and the pivotal mounting and guidance of the shanks of the key levers produces a substantially true up and down key movement and prevents interference between the several banks of keys.

i ype b otally connected with said ;key--leverat "its;

type bar,

What I claim is. 1. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted type bar, a key lever pivoted at a pointintermediate its ends, .a push link pivotally' connected at itslower end to the reartendof: the .key lever, said link having a lostmotion connection at; its upper end with the type bar at a' point forward ofthe pivot j thereof and a temporary connection with said type bar at a point forward o f };sai

lost-motion connection at commencement 7 the printing stroke. '2. I a key and type bar actiomapive a pivoted key 1ever, a"=-lin'k'5p1v lower. end and having a lost-motion 'connec-f type bar at a the forward end of said flevr,="a-pivoted a l link pivotally-rconnected I to. the rear end of said leverandfhayinfg a pin and slot connection" with said type ba-r. below and in front of its pivot, and having a shoulder below and in front of said-pin and slot connection for engagingsaid type, bar

,to start its movement.

4. In typewriter, a' main supporting frame, brackets secured to the inner sides of the side members of said frame having inwardly extending lugs at the uppervrearward portions thereof and shaft supporting portions forward thereof, a type bar segment supported on; said inwardly extending lugs at the upper portions of said brackets, 1

type bars pivoted in said segment, shafts supported between the'forward shaft sup-- porting portions of the brackets, key levers pivotally supported by said shafts andlinks connecting said key levers and the type bars.

-5. Key and type-bar mechanism, comprising four parallel shafts, two banks of key levers pivotally supported by two of said shafts, two sets of levers pivotally supported bar pivot, and

tending forwardly beneath the type bar to by the other-two of said shafts, vertically movable keys pivotallyconnected to said two sets, of levers, guide rods for said ver- -'tically movable keys, pivoted type bars and links connectinFg said levers and said type bars- 7 6, In a typewriter, a main supportingfr me, brackets secured to the inner sides ofaftheside-members of said frame, a type i'osegn ent supported between the upper portion Vo f'said brackets, type bars pivoted r'lgsaid segment, four parallel shafts suprted between the forward portions of the rackets, two banks of key levers pivotally supportedbytw'o of said shafts, two sets 'of levers pivotally supported by the other two of said shafts, vertically movable keys pivotally connectedto said two sets of lever s,'g'uide rods for said vertically movable 'keys, and links connecting the levers and typebars. i a

.g, Ina typewriter, pivoted type bars, pivoted key levers connected therewith, guide bars adjustable in a plane toward and away from the type bars, and key shanks pivoted to the key levers and guided by said guide bars, the adjustment of said guide bars toward-and away from the type bars en- 'ablingthe guiding oftheykey shanks for moving in substantially a vertical plane.

8-. In a typewriter, pivoted type bars, pivoted key levers connected therewith, guide bars having notched edges and key shanks pivoted to the key levers, longitudinally "slotted to slide over the guide'bars and having their edge portions guided inthe notches in the edges of the guide bars.-

'9.- In a key and type bar action, a pivoted type bar, a key lever pivoted at a point intermediate its ends, a push link pivotally connected at its lower end to thenear end of rthe key lever, said link having a lost motion connection at its upper end with the type bar at a point forward of the type a shoulder on the link ex;

engage said type bar at a point forward of- Copies of this patent may be obtained for-five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Ifatents, Washingt0n, 'D O. 

